Everyone is looking for the secret. It’s the secret to getting that perfect grip on the club while moving the arms, legs and torso in just the right way to send a small white ball to a distant cup. Or maybe you’re an angler who wants to find the secret on how to move a fly rod in just the right way to send a hook cloaked in feathers, tinsel and fur to an unsuspecting and vulnerable fish.
Well, after a lifetime of fishing, I think I can answer that question with a short leap of faith: There is no secret.
We actually learned the lesson early in life with the shared experience of learning to ride a bike! In neuroscience it’s referred to as Hebb’s Rule (Hebbian theory), which states that neurons that fire together, wire together – and that’s how we build habits, good and bad.
That’s why it’s important to learn the “physics” of the golf swing, or the fly cast, and then practice. If there is a “secret,” it’s that repetition, not the time spent practicing, is the key.
The basic casting stroke consists of the rod being held in the dominant hand at the base of the fingers with the thumb on top of the cork. The stroke is a combination of moves of the wrist, the forearm and the upper arm. In the “ready” position with the thumb on the cork, the wrist is straight and the butt of the rod is at a 45-degree angle to the forearm. The wrist travels from this “straight” position to a 45-degree down angle and then returns to straight position. The forearm and the upper arm complete the motion.
There are five basic movements that are considered essential:
1.) There must be a pause at the end of each casting stroke, which varies in duration with the amount of line beyond the rod tip. This allows the line to straighten for the next cast and load the rod fully. It’s key that you watch your back cast to perfect your timing.
2.) Slack line should be kept to an absolute minimum. Slack line prevents the rod from loading and applying the proper power to the cast. The most common mistake that creates slack line happens when the rod is started too high, forming a belly in the line between the rod tip and the water. To prevent this, start your cast with the rod tip pointing at or in the water.
3.) To form the most efficient, least air-resistant loops, and to direct the energy of the cast toward the target, the rod tip must move in a relatively straight line. Practice tracing a horizontal line, like a roof eve.
4.) The length of the casting stroke must vary with the amount of line past the rod tip. If you are making a short cast, there is only a small amount of line needed. As the length of line increases, the stroke must be increased to load the rod.
5.) Power must be applied in the proper amount at the proper place in the stroke. In general, the power is applied slowly at first, gradually increasing to a peak at the end of the stroke. There should be a crisp stop at the end of the stroke, forcing the rod to come out of its bend. This is referred to as the “speed-up and stop.”
Like riding a bike, playing tennis or golfing, the only way to master fly casting is to practice on a regular basis. Create a practice schedule you can stick to. Start with short practice sessions on a regular basis to build good habits.
We never get as much time on the water as we want and often work long hours for the opportunity to take that special trip to the Bahamas, Argentina or Montana. Spending time to master fly casting will pay dividends when you connect with that fish of a lifetime, occasioned by a smooth cast and a perfectly placed fly.
